Campus OWL is the network of the five state universities in Ostwestfalen-Lippe (OWL) – Bielefeld University, Paderborn University, Hochschule Bielefeld – University of Applied Sciences and Arts, OWL University of Applied Sciences and Arts and the University of Music Detmold. This network, set up in early 2016, facilitates co-operation and enhances the visibility of Ostwestfalen-Lippe as a region of science and innovation, in particular in the areas of research, transfer, internationalisation and digitalisation. By including different types of university, Campus OWL reaches over 65,000 students with over 500 degree courses from the full range of the academic spectrum at its locations in Bielefeld, Detmold, Gütersloh, Höxter, Lemgo, Minden and Paderborn. Boasting some 120,000 companies, the OWL region is one of the strongest economic regions in Germany. The universities’ collaboration with a wide variety of leading companies makes the OWL region a major centre for higher education and industry. Internationality plays a key role.

The liaison office in New York – Campus OWL, Inc. – was set up in 2019. It is located – alongside the Consulate General of Germany and the Permanent Mission of Germany to the United Nations (UN) – in German House, opposite the UN headquarters in Manhattan. German House is also home to the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), other offices of German universities, the German Research Foundation (DFG) and the German Centre for Research and Innovation (DWIH).

The OWL liaison office advertises study and research opportunities and promotes collaboration with North American partner institutions. It serves as a service centre and contact point for students, academics and researchers, entrepreneurs and administrative staff from OWL or North American universities seeking further information about the programmes, opportunities and support on offer or interested in a collaboration. As a first point of contact, the liaison office provides information, advice and support on studying, PhD programmes and research stays. It also supports the initiation and further development of joint projects with North American partners, and in particular provides information about funding opportunities for stays abroad and research projects.

The new executive director plans to focus on strengthening the connections between North American and OWL universities and intensifying contacts with companies on both sides of the Atlantic.

New York / Bielefeld (hsbi), 14.07.2025. Michael Paulus has taken over as executive director of the Campus OWL offices in New York City. Paulus is moving from Rostock International House at the University of Rostock to the Hudson River. He succeeds Katja Simons in office.

For his new role, the German philologist and historian has set himself the task of consolidating the ties between the five state universities in OWL and expanding their network on the North American continent. In particular, he plans to further strengthen existing exchange formats for scientists and students and intensify the dialogue with sponsors in Germany and the USA. “I would like to combine teaching and research as much as possible,” says Paulus.

Services for companies: internships, business start-ups, skilled labour placement, knowledge transfer

Additionally, he would like to advance existing contacts with US-American and Canadian companies and make new contacts. Paulus: “I want to be there for those companies from OWL that are supposed to benefit from the work of the New York office, e.g. by arranging internships for students, supporting business start-ups, finding skilled workers and promoting knowledge transfer.” 

Michael Paulus also sees it as his task to engage in 'science diplomacy' so that the transatlantic relationships between OWL's universities and American universities and educational institutions that have grown over decades, can be maintained and expanded.

The five state OWL universities have been represented in New York since 2019 

After studying German philology, history, sociology and philosophy at Bielefeld University, Freie Universität Berlin and New York City University, Michael Paulus has worked in academia in the US, China, Korea and Germany.

Founded in 2016, Campus OWL is a network of the five higher education institutions in OWL, Hochschule Bielefeld – University of Applied Sciences and Arts (HSBI), Hochschule für Musik Detmold, TH OWL, Bielefeld University and Paderborn University. The New York office of the network was founded in 2019 and – just like the German Consulate and the Permanent Mission of Germany to the United Nations (UN) – is situated in the German House, opposite the UN headquarters in Manhattan, i.a. together with the DAAD's offices, the DFG offices and further German higher education institutions.